Michigan State University Athletics
Hockey Hosts Windsor in Exhibition Game on Tuesday
10/6/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
WINDSOR VS. MICHIGAN STATE
| Date | Time | Tues., Oct. 7 | 7 p.m. |
| Location | East Lansing, Mich.| Munn Ice Arena (6,470) |
| Tickets | Available at MSUSpartans.com |
| Promotion | MSU students receive free admission with their student I.D. (Enter at North entrance) |
| Game Notes | Michigan State |
| Gametracker | |
| Twitter Updates | @MSU_Hockey |
New Faces
The Spartans welcome four incoming freshmen for the 2014-15 season; D Carson Gatt (Farmington Hills, Mich./Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL), D Josh Jacobs (Shelby Twp., Mich./Indiana Ice, USHL), G Ed Minney (Wind Gap, Pa./U.S. National Team Development Program U-18) and F Dylan Pavelek (Marysville, Mich./U.S. National Team Development Program U-18). Jacobs was selected in the second round, 41st overall, of the 2014 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils.
The Spartans Return...
- 60% of their total point production and 70% of their goal scoring
- Junior goaltender Jake Hildebrand, who started 32 of 36 games and earned All-Big Ten honorable mention
- Junior Mike Ferrantino, who led all underclassmen with 20 points (9g, 11a)
- Senior Matt Berry, who ranked second on the team with 10 goals last season
- Sophomores Villiam Haag and Mackenzie MacEachern, who led MSU rookies with eight goals each
In 2013-14, The Spartans...
- Went 10-2 when scoring at least three goals
- Led the nation in blocked shots per game with an average of 17.67 and led all Big Ten teams in total blocked shots with 636, ranking fifth nationally
- Ranked 20th in the county in goals allowed per game (2.58)
- Went 7-1-4 when leading after two periods and were 7-4-4 when scoring first
- Had five freshmen (Haag, MacEachern, Joe Cox, Thomas Ebbing, Brock Krygier) play in at least 35 games
- Ranked 10th nationally in attendance
About Windsor...
Michigan State will be the only U.S. college team the Lancers take on this season ... In their only exhibition game against an NCAA opponent last year, Miami (Ohio) defeated the Lancers, 8-2 ... The Lancers return their top-two point producers from 2013-14 in Spencer Pommells and Drew Palmer ... Pommells led the Lancers with 32 points, while Palmer had 17 assists and recorded 25 points ... Kenny Bradford led all Windsor defensemen with 15 points (10-5) ... Goaltender Parker Van Buskirk posed a 2.66 GAA, a .920 save percentage and 16 wins.
Hildebrand Named to the Richter Award Watch List
For the second straight year, junior Jake Hildebrand is one of 20 NCAA goaltenders that has been named to the Mike Richter Award Watch List, which honors the most outstanding goaltender in NCAA Division I hockey.
Hildebrand was an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection in 2013-14, posting a 2.44 GAA and a .923 save percentage. The native of Butler, Pa., allowed two goals or fewer in 21 of 32 appearances and made 35 or more saves in eight games. His 32 appearances were the second most of any goalie in the Big Ten.
Goalies on the Mike Richter Award watch list are chosen by members of Let's Play Hockey magazine, utilizing both past performance and future potential. Candidates for the second-annual Mike Richter Award will be determined by nominations from all 59 NCAA Division I men's hockey head coaches. The finalists and winner are selected by a committee of coaches, scouts and members of the media. The winner will be announced at the 2015 NCAA Men's Frozen Four in Boston.
20 vs. The Top 20
Michigan State will play 20 of its 34 games against opponents ranked in the USCHO Top-20 Preseason Poll, which is the most of any Big Ten school. The Spartans will play 16 games against foes ranked in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Top-15 Preseason Coaches' Poll, which is the second most of any conference school behind Ohio State (17).
In The B1G
The Spartans were picked fifth in the preseason coaches' poll, while Minnesota was picked to win the league title. Matt Berry and Jake Hildebrand were both voted to the Preseason Players to Watch List, also selected by the coaches.
Spartans on TV
MSU will have at least 22 games televised this season. In total, more than 60 games featuring Big Ten teams will be televised this season.
Green-White Game Recap
The Spartans played an intrasquad scrimmage on Sunday, a day after their first official practices of the season. They teams played two, 20-minute periods and then a scoreless overtime before JT Stenglein won the game for Team White in a shootout.
Pro Experience
Five Spartans had the opportunity to take part in various NHL prospect development camps this summer. Mackenzie MacEachern (St. Louis Blues), Rhett Holland (Arizona Coyotes) and Josh Jacobs (New Jersey Devils) trained with their respective NHL rights holders, while Thomas Ebbing was asked to the New York Islanders camp and Jake Hildebrand received an invitation to the Pittsburgh Penguins camp. The camps, which do not affect NCAA eligibility, are intended to provide a training camp-like experience.
Wearing The `C'
Junior forward Michael Ferrantino was named the Spartans' 70th captain in program history in April. The Plymouth native produced 20 points (9g, 11a) as a sophomore - the most among all underclassmen.
Up Next
The Spartans will begin the regular season Oct. 17-18 when they take on UMass in a two-game series at Munn Ice Arena.
